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THIS WEEK: Feb. 17 to 23, 2017

Winter Wonderland Family Getaway, with cross-country skiing, animal tracking, nature hikes, snow tubing, campfires and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Feb. 17 to 20. $225 includes three nights lodging and meals from Friday dinner to Monday lunch. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Sugar Notch Mountain Hike, six moderate miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. Feb. 19. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-735-4359.

The Real Wildlife of Las Vegas: Natural Areas of Southern Nevada and Vicinity, a talk on the Native American culture, geology, plant and animal life and birds of the Las Vegas area. Sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 105 Irem Road, Dallas. 7 p.m. Feb. 20. Free. 570-479-0400.

Passenger Pigeon Program, wildlife conservation officer William Williams will present Flight to Oblivion, Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon at the state Game Commission Northeast Region office. The program begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at 3917 Memorial Highway, Dallas. The event is free. To register call 570-310-1781.

FUTURE

Who Lives Where? A session on where animals spend their time in winter months along with a search for some of them. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. Feb. 25. $6. 570-629-3061.

Animal Tracking, looking for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks and other signs of animals. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 25. $5. 570-828-2319.

Fuzz 92.1 Cardboard Box Sled Derby. Design and build a cardboard sled and race to the finish line at Montage Mountain, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton. Feb. 26 with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. and race at 10:30 a.m. $30 per team. Details at montagemountainresorts.com.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. Feb. 26. Free. 570-371-3951.

Wild Creek Cove Hike, six moderate miles at Beltzville State Park. Meet at the Sears Automotive Center, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Township. 11:45 a.m. Feb. 26. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Hide-n’ Seekers Program for Preschoolers will teach about the natural world through stories, activities and crafts, starting at 10 a.m. March 2 at Nescopeck State Park. The program is open to children ages 3 to 5. Children should dress according to weather. For more information or to register call 570-403-2006.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a field trip to the refuge in Kleinfeltersville to observe thousands of snow geese and tundra swans along with other waterfowl, songbirds and raptors. Sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at Perkins Restaurant, 50 Route 93, West Hazleton. 8 a.m. March 4. Free but registration required: 570-443-7791.

Sugar Shack Scramble, a hike through the woods to the Two Saps Sugar Shack for cocoa and pancakes with fresh maple syrup. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. March 4 with groups heading out at 9 and 9:30 a.m. $15. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Oh! The Many Feet We Meet, an interactive lesson on the natural history of mammals common to Salt Springs Park. Follow the animals’ tracks and look for other signs of activity. The hike begins at 1 p.m. March 4, at Salt Springs Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Montrose. Donations accepted. Call 570-967-7275 for more information.

Bruce Lake Natural Area Hike, eight moderate miles at Promised Land State Park. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. March 5. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-806-1754.

Active Adventures: Healthy Hikes, a guided hike on the trails of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 5. Free. 570-828-2319.

Whooo Gives a Hoot? Full Moon Hike, after a short presentation on owls by Nancy Wottrich, wander a moonlit woods calling some in. Weather permitting. The event begins at 7 p.m. March 11 at Salt Springs Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Montrose. Donations accepted. Call 570-967-7275 for more information.

Tobyhanna State Park Hike, seven moderate miles on the park trails. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. March 12. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-842-2230.

Active Adventures, orienteering, an introduction to using a map and compass on the orienteering course at Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 12. Free. 570-828-2319.

Full Moon Night Hike, a naturalist-led walk to explore nocturnal life under the illumination of the full moon. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 12. Free. 570-836-3835.

Birding at Frances Slocum, a leisurely walkwith Bruce Troy of Wild Birds Unlimited. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming. 8:30 a.m. March 18. Free. 570-675-9900.

Active Adventures: Mindfulness, an introduction to techniques to become more focused, less stressed, more communicative and being alert to nature. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10:30 a.m. to noon. March 18. Free. 570-828-2319.

An eBird Primer, get to know the free online database that birders use to track their sightings. Local birder, Evan Mann will provide a live, online demonstration on how to use the eBird program to track your data. The event begins at 10 a.m. March 18, at Salt Springs Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Montrose. Donations accepted. Call 570-967-7275 for more information.

Frank Gantz Trail Hike, 8.5 moderate miles between Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna state parks. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 9:45 a.m. March 19. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-346-8010.

Tree Pruning Class, learn how to maintain optimum health and beauty by properly pruning your lanscape and fruit trees. Jim Kessler will discuss and demonstrate pruning on several species and explain why, where, how, what and when to prune. $10 per person, $5 for members. The event is 10 a.m. March 25, at Salt Springs Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Montrose. Call 570-967-7275 for more information.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. March 26. Free. 570-371-3951.

Mocanaqua Loop Trail, seven difficult miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. March 26. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Mushroom Inoculation. Learn how to grow Shiitake mushrooms on wooden logs with a take-home specimen. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 10 a.m. April 15. Free. 570-836-3835.

Hawley Earth Fest Celebration, celebrate Mother Earth April 21-23 during the Downtown Hawley Partnership event in conjunction with the Pike/Wayne Conservation. In its fourth year, events include learning about natural surroundings.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. April 23. Free. 570-371-3951.

Lean about the extinction of the passenger pigeon by wildlife conservation officer William Williams on Feb. 23.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pigeon-1699271_960_720.jpg.optimal.jpgLean about the extinction of the passenger pigeon by wildlife conservation officer William Williams on Feb. 23.